Roof construction



Feb. 13, 1951 H. s. SHANNON ROOF CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1946 INVENTOR. H. s. SHANNON- W I 477'0fi/VEY.

Feb. 13, 1951 H. s. SHANNON ROOF CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1946 INVENTOR.

N 5. SH/iA/NGN.

Feb., 13, 1951 H. s. sHANNoN 2,541,784

ROOF CONSTRUCTION Filed June 22, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. H- 6'. SHANNON.

Patented Feb. 13, 1951 ROOF CONSTRUCTION Harold S. Shannon, Detroit, Mich., assignor to National Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application June 22, 1946, Serial No. 678,636

Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to building construction and more particularly to roof framing structure therefor.

As is well known, it is the practice in the building industry to construct roof framing, such as end gable frames and intermediate trusses, in place on the job- To reduce the cost of building construction, it has beenproposed to factory fabricate end frames and trusses by mass production methods and supply them ready to be hoisted into place in the roof assembly. While this no doubt decreases cost of fabrication of end frames and trusses, other problems and disadvantages arise which are equally undesirable- For example, trusses are usually so large that they are difficult to store, handle, package and. ship. Also roof ridge members are usually of such length that they, like the end. frames and trusses, are unwieldly to handle, package and ship. In addition, factory fabricated trusses androof framing structures present problems with respect to the connection of the trusses and frames together by the ridge member and so, in general, factory fab"- ricated roof structures have not been entirely satisfactory.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved factory fabricated roofing sub-assemblies of a character to overcome the above mentioned objections.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved roof structure sub-assemblies of a character and arrangement such that they may be readily assembled into the roof framework assembly.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a roof structure of interchangeable, prefabricated. sub-assemblies to facilitate roof erection and decrease cost thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide prefabricated roof. sub-assemblies of a character which may be conveniently handled, packaged and shipped.

Other objects of the" invention will become apparent from the following detailed description:

taken in connection with the. accompanying drawings in which:

Figure-1 is" an isometric view'of a buildingroof structure embodying features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, isometric view of the roof structure with parts thereof shown displaced to show certain details of construction;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, isometric view of a detail of the roof framework structure;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, elevational view partly broken away and insection showing inter-'- connections between a truss and ridge structure of the roof framing;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the: roof framework structure taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of an intermediate truss-sub-asse'mbly of the roof framework struc-- ture; and,

Figure? is a view similarto Figure 6 of an end: frame section of the roof framework structure.

In the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, the building includes corner columns l0, pairs of intermediate, oppositely disposed, side wall columns H and intermediate end wall columns l2. Supported on the side wall columns l0, H are girders l3 seating on and secured to cap plates M on the upper ends of the columns. Preferably the girders l3 are of sectional construction each section, as at l5, spanning a pair of the adjacent columns around the: walls of the building. The roof structure includes, end gable frames or trusses i6, spaced, intermediate frames or trusses l1 and a ridge member l8. The end gable frames l 6 and intermediate trusses l"! are supported by the columns H), II and: are connected together by the ridge member I8. As shown in Figure 1, the end gable frames l6 seaton the cap plates M- of the corner columns Ill and on the cap plates of the intermediate end wallcolumn whereas the intermediate trusses seat on and span the side wall girders at each of the pair of oppositely disposed intermediate columns In order to reduce building costs and to facilltate packaging, handling and shipping of the building roof structure, the gable roof end frames I 6 eachv comprises a pair of prefabricated sub-- assemblies, or sections 20 for connection together at the building erection site. The pre-assembled sections 20 of each gabl end frame !6 are joined: together at or below the ridge member l8 and are made alike and interchangeable to facilitate as sembly". Referring in detail to the gable end: frames [6 and particularly to Figure '7 which shows one of the pro-assembled sections 20 thereof, this frame section comprises a lower horizontal frame member 22, an upper angularly disposed frame member 23 and a vertically extend-' ing' frame member 24. These frame members 22', 2'3 and 24 are secured together" at their ends, preferably by welding, in the form of a right angle triangle comprising one-half of the isosceles triangular shape'of a gable end frame.

Preferably, the end gable frame members 22,23

and 24 are of channel-form for strength and rigidity, the lower horizontal frame member sections 22 being also the end wall girders of the building. These frame members or end wall girders 22, like the side wall girders [3, each has a web 25, a lower seating flange 26 and an upper supporting flange 21, the flanges 26, 2! preferably being directed inwardly of the building. The

upper, angularly disposed frame member 23 is ar 3|]; an inner side'flange 3| and an outer side flange 32 extending vertically between the upper surface of the spacer plate 29 and the upper end of the angularly disposed channel frame member 23. At the outer ends of each of the frame sec:

tions 20, an angle bracket 34 has a verticalleg 35 welded to the inner side flange of the angle frame member 23 and to the lower horizontal frame member 22, reinforcing the structure, the other or horizontal leg 36 of the bracket 34"seating on the side wall girder l3. This horizontal bracket leg 36 may be provided with an aperture 31 aligning with an aperture in the upper supporting flange of the girder l3 and receiving a selfthreading screw 38 for securing the parts together.

The pre-assembled, gable end frame sections 2|] are connected together into a rigid gable end frame by a pair of splice plates 4|]. As shown, the pre-assembled pair of frame sections 2|] are brought together with the channel webs 36 of the vertical frame members 24 in back-to-back relation. To each of the pair of corresponding, oppositely directed flanges 3|, 32 of the pair of frame members 24, is secured one of the splice plates 4|]. These splice plates 4|! are elongated and seat flat against the flanges 3|, 32, overlapping the joint therebetween and preferably extending upwardly to overlap the joint between the inner opposed ends of the angularly disposed chord members 23. The flanges 3|, 32, of the splice plates 4|], are preferably secured together by self-threading screws 4| threaded into apertures 42 provided in the flanges 3|, 32 of the ver-' tical frame members 24.

' The intermediate frames or trusses H, like the end frames 6, each comprises a pair of prefabricated half frames or sections 44 so as to facilitate packaging and handling of the structure and also to facilitate erection of the roof framing. As shown in Figure 6, the prefabricated frame section 44 of the trusses I! is similar to the prefabrifcated frame section 2|! of the gable end frames l6;

Each of the truss frame sections 44 comprises a lower, horizontal chord member section 45, an upper angularly disposed chord member 23 and a vertical support or web 24, the chord members 23 and 24 being preferably of the same channel stock and of the same lengths as the corresponding end frame members, designated by the same numerals. Like the end frame members, the truss frame members 23, 24 and 44 are secured together, preferably by welding, at the ends thereof, forming triangular frames. The upper truss chord member 23, like the corresponding end frame member 23, is arranged so that its flanges are directed downwardly. The lower chord section member 45 may be of the same stock as the upper frame member 23 and this lower chord section 45 is arranged with its side flanges extending upwardly. Vertically and angularly disposed webs or struts 48, 49 connect and reinforce the upper and lower truss chords 23, 45, the webs having their opposite ends received in and preferably welded to the channel frame members. The half sections of each truss H are secured together by pairs of the splice plates 49 secured to the upright flanges 3|, 32 by the selfthreading screws 4|. At their outer ends, the truss sections 44 are provided with pairs of the brackets 34 for securing the ends of the trusses I! to the side wall girders l3.

In order to facilitate packaging and handling of the ridge member 3 and to facilitate generally the assembly of the roof framing, the ridge member l8 comprises a' number of sections 53. Each of these ridge member sections 56 is of a length to span a pair of the trusses I! or to span an end frame !6 and an adjacent truss I1. Each of the ridge member sections 56 comprises a pair of par-1 allel plate-like members 5| spaced apart by U-' shaped spacer members 52 welded thereto at intervals along the length thereof. The parallel ridge members 5| preferably have inturned,

upper, reinforcing flanges 53 and lower, out-- turned, reinforcing flanges 54. At opposite ends" of each ridge member section 5|), the U-shaped spacer members 52 constitute attaching means in the form of hook receivers, such as loops or eyes, to engage over co-operable attaching means or an upstanding book 56 carried by each of the: splice plates 46. These hooks 56 may be welded to the splice plates 43 adjacent the upper ends thereof. Intermediate its ends, each of the hooks 56 has an upper offset portion providing an up-.-' wardly facing seat 58 for the loop ends 52 of the ridge member sections 50 to rest thereon. Thus,

the ridge member sections 5|! locate the end gable frames l6 and the intermediate trusses I1 rela-i tive to each other and connect them together, it

being only necessary to set the ridge member sections in place over the hooks 56, carried by the splice plates 40. Each of the ridge member sections 53 carries a pair of angularly disposed connecting members or braces 60 which, in addition to bracing the framing, connect the ridge mem ber sections 56 to the end frames 22 and to the intermediate trusses l1. These braces 56' are preferably of channel form for strength and rigidity, each having a web 6| and depending, side reinforcing flanges 62, 63. The upper ends of 'the braces 63 position between the spaced ridge mem bers 5| and are preferably pivotally connected thereto by a pivot pin 65 extending through apertures in the depending flanges 62, 63 of the braces 66. These upper ends of each pair of braces 60 are spaced apart intermediate the ends of the re spective ridge member sections 54, extending downwardly therefrom respectively toward the adjacent splice plates 46 to which they are a'ttached. At their lower ends, the brace flanges 62, 63 are outturned, as at 66, to seat flat against may be assembledor-i the ground and then hoisted. into position in the structure. semble: these. end gable frames, two of the: half sections 20 are brought together. with the upright channel members 24 thereof in back-toback relation and the splice plates 45 are then applied and secured to the members 25 by the self-threading screws M. The end frames I 6 may'then. be hoisted into place: and the chord or girder members 22 thereof bolted to the column cap plates I4. The self-threading screws 38 may then be applied and tightened down to secure the outer ends of the end frames to the opposite side wall girders I5. The intermediate frames or trusses I! are assembled similarly to the end frames and hoisted into place. As each truss is set in place on the girders I5, a connecting section 50 of the ridge member may be set in place locating the truss and connecting it to the adjacent end frame or to another truss as the case may be. This is done simply by lowering the ridge member section with its looped ends 52 over the upstanding hooks 56 carried by the splice plates 4'6. Later, or when desired, the pivoted connectors or braces 60 may be swung up and their lower ends secured by self-threading screws to the splice plates 38, thus securing the ridge member sections, trusses and end frames together into a rigid roof framework.

I claim:

1. A building truss comprising, a pair of connected together truss sections, each of the truss sections having a horizontal channel chord member, an angularly disposed channel chord member and an upright connecting member connecting the channel chord members together adjacent their inner ends, the chord members of each truss section and the upright connecting member being arranged as a right angle triangle with the angularly disposed chord member defining the hypotenuse and being coplanar with the sides of the channel chord members directed toward each other, means for supporting the truss sections adjacent their outer ends on a building framework and also connecting the ends of the chord members of each section together, reinforcing web members having opposite end portions thereof received in and secured to the channel chord members of each section, and splice plates overlying and connecting the upright connecting members of the sections together in back-to-back relationship.

2. In a building roof construction, the combination comprising, a plurality of spaced parallel trusses, each truss comprising a pair of preassembled truss sections and each truss section having a horizontal chord member, an inclined chord member, a vertical connecting member connecting together the spaced inner ends of the chord members and means connecting together the outer ends of the chord members, each pair of truss sections being arranged with the vertical members in back-to-back relationship, and each truss comprising splice members overlying and connected to the sides of the vertical members of the pair of truss sections and connecting the truss sections together with the inclined chord members adjoining at the ridge of the roof and serving as roof rafters, ridge member sections respectively extending between adjacent trusses and having attachment means, attachment means carried by the splice plate members cooperable with said attachment means on the ridge member sections attaching the ridge member sections and the trusses together for To as- 6.- restraini'ng' lateral movement of the ridge member sections relative to the trusses, and bracing means carried by the ridge member sections connected to the trusses acting to hold the ridge member sections against upward movement relative to the trusses.

3. In a building roof construction, the com bination comprising, a truss including a pair of pre-assembled truss sections, each truss section having a horizontal chord member, an inclined chord member, a vertical connecting member connecting together the spaced inner ends of the chord members and means connecting together the outer ends of the chord members, the pair of truss sections being arranged with the vertical members in back-to-back relationship, and the truss including splice members overlying and connected to the sides of the vertical members of the pair of truss sections and conmeeting the truss sections together with the inclined chord members adjoining at the ridge of the roof and serving as roof rafters, attachment means carried by the truss restraining lateral movement of the ridge member, means carried by the ridge member cooperable with the attachment means, and a bracing member carried by the ridge member connecting the ridge member to the truss.

4. In a building roof construction, the combination comprising, a truss including a pair of pre-assembled truss sections, each truss section having a horizontal chord member, an inclined chord member, a vertical connecting member connecting together the spaced inner ends of the chord members and means connecting together the outer ends of the end members, the pair of truss sections being arranged with the vertical members in back-to-back relationship, and the truss including a splice plate member overlying and connected to the sides of the vertical members of the pair of truss sections and connecting the truss sections together with the inclined chord members adjoining at the ridge of the roof and serving as roof rafters, a ridge member attached to the splice plate member, and a brace carried by the ridge member having one end attached thereto and having its other end attached to the splice plate member to provide with the abutting portion of said chords a ridge structure for the roof construction.

5. In a building roof construction, the combination comprising, a plurality of spaced parallel trusses, each truss comprising a pair of preassembled truss sections and each truss section having a horizontal chord member, an inclined chord member, a vertical connecting member connecting together the spaced inner ends of the chord members and means connecting together the outer ends of the chord members, each pair of truss sections being arranged with the vertical members in back-to-back relationship, and each truss comprising splice members overlying and connected to the sides of the vertical members of the pair of truss sections and connecting the truss sections together with the inclined chord members adjoining at the ridge of the roof and serving as roof rafters, a plurality of ridge member sections respectively extending between adjacent trusses, attachment means carried by the trusses, and attachment means carried by the ridge member sections cooperable with the truss attachment means attaching the ridge member sections and the trusses together so that said ridge members and said adjoined chords pr'ovidethe ridge structure of said roof construction.

HAROLD s. SHANNON. gig g REFERENCES CITED 5 $22 123 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 8 v UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date e McDermott Aug. 6, 1935 Patterson Apr. 25, 1939 Smits Nov. 11, 1941" FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France 1928' 

